Former Girlfriend Testifies In Sexual Assault Trial

January 04, 2001|By GARY LIBOW; Courant Staff Writer

MIDDLETOWN — The 29-year-old former girlfriend of Robert Walker told a jury Wednesday that the then-president of the Greater Hartford Jaycees terrorized her emotionally and sexually for months, sometimes at gunpoint.

The woman, under questioning by Assistant State's Attorney Russell Zentner in Superior Court, testified that Walker had threatened her safety and that of her family if she disobeyed his relentless commands and sexual demands.

Attired in a dark suit, Walker -- charged with six counts of first-degree sexual assault, four counts of kidnapping and a single charge of threatening -- looked on as his former girlfriend testified. The woman, a Jaycees member, told jurors that she was ``terrified'' by Walker's repeated abuse and stalking.

She testified that Walker once slid a gun up her leg in early 2000 before raping her. ``I just laid there ... He assaulted me,'' she said.

In mid-February, the woman said Walker had promised to leave her forever. But when she returned home from work that night, she said, Walker was still in the Middletown apartment. The next day, the woman said, she took a room at the Hilton in Hartford, but somehow Walker found out she was staying there. The woman said Walker drove to the hotel and refused to leave.

The woman testified that last Feb. 27, Walker came to her apartment and threatened to harm a male friend of hers. She said Walker came into her bedroom, forced her to put on a green negligee and stated he would not harm her friend if she cooperated. ``While he was assaulting me he was saying, `Who owns you? Who owns you? ... Who controls you?' I felt totally helpless. I was scared. ... That incident was so controlling. I felt like he did really own and control me at that point.''

Walker's behavior continued until early March, when the woman said she finally called police after another sexual assault.

Zentner placed into evidence numerous photos of the victim's bedroom and bed, where many of the assaults are said to have taken place. He also placed into evidence a copy of the emergency-911 tape when the woman finally had a neighbor contact police shortly after the last sexual assault.

Walker is a convicted sex offender who served 6 1/2 years in prison after being convicted of first-degree robbery and third-degree sexual assault in 1989. He also has a conviction for criminal impersonation.

Walker resigned as president of the Greater Hartford Jaycees March 8, the day before Middletown police issued a warrant for his arrest. Police arrested him March 28 in New York City when he went to retrieve his impounded car, which had been towed for a parking violation in Manhattan.

Walker was extradited to Connecticut, where he was charged by Middletown police.

Walker's attorney, Paula Waite of Hartford, in April challenged the victim's statements. Waite said the woman and Walker had a long-term relationship that involved domestic disputes that boil down to credibility issues.

``We're talking about two adults and two different stories,'' Waite said at the time.